DIRTY KNEES !!

Happy holiday weekend to all!!
Ok...I know that I cannot be the only person with a problem of knees that refuse to come clean after gardening. I seems like the dirt has stained my skin. I have tried everything I can think of (even household bleach) and they still look dirty.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
carole in atlanta

I like to do my planting in flip flops so my feet are always dirty!

An old mechanic's trick? Rub vaseline on them BEFORE you go out. I don't have the problem with my knees, (cause I wouldn't be caught dead is shorts) but I get dirt into the fine lines of my hands and fingers. I have to use a stiff nail brush to come clean enough to go out in public. When I remember to use hand lotion ahead of time, I don't embarrass myself.

Non-gel whitening toothpaste - it really works! Has to be a paste, not a gel.

I wear knee pads both in the winter(jeans) and summer(shorts) to save my knees from dirt and soreness.
Carol

Thanks all for your replies! Terre...I would not be caught dead in shorts also! Mobi...would love to garden in flip flops but have too many snakes in my yard...yuck! Dea..will try the toothpaste...do apply and scrub? Daisy..have 2 prs of knee pads...I really SHOULD wear them.

An inexpensive knee pad is the four hole drink holder from McDonald turned upside down. The knee will fit right in the middle section almost as if it was made for it. Saves the knees and keeps them clean.

I had to go to a dinner party last night and I was horrified when the dirt would not come off my feet, knees and hands!! I used Dawn diswashing soap and a dish scrubber (I'd only share this with you guys! LOL). It did most of the trick. I just made sure I mentioned several times "I've been in the garden a lot lately." I have Bag Balm slathered on me now to try and loosen the rest of it! Ü
~Rachael

Rachael...let me know if the bag balm works for you! I'm at work today (ugh) in a business suit and panty hose. Good thing nobody can see under the desk...my kness look filthy!
I also "have been in the garden alot recently" lol
carole

Carole, I'm sorry you have to work today! I am taking full advantage of the holiday (DH is home today) and the nice weather to get a lot done in yard!
I will sure let you know if it works. It has worked for me before to loosen the dirt from my nails and cuticles.
Have a great day!
~Rachael

HI, I use the knee pads when in shorts. Ended up with one really rough, almost callused knee when I didn't (I tend to lean forward on one knee.
I am going to try the balm on the hands-even with the hospital type gloves-dirt does wash down in them. I get the purple ones from ShopKo-they last longer than the clear and can be re-used several times.
Dirty knees and nails-signs of busy gardener!!!!!

This is interesting-- I get dirty hands, but not knees. I bend over standing up and get sore muscles in the back of my legs instead! I'd never really realized that before, although I'm just getting into outdoor gardening. It starts with a lot of weeding. :)

May I suggest tights rather than panty hose? They resist snag and they infer a certain bohemian attitude reminiscent of the 60's.

Weezingreens.....lol....since I AM a product of the 60's your reply gave me a chuckle! My employer would love it...business skirt suit with tights....I think my birks would look wonderful to complete the look!
carole

How about a bit of foundation makeup on the ol' knees before you suit up in the morning? ... or how about the ever-fashionable midi-skirt? I volunteer to do the dishes just to get the grime out of the pores of my hands, but I don't think I could manage to wash a plate with my knees.

Hey, I never quit wearing tights! But then, us slightly strange poet/farmer types get away with alot. . .

I need to correct my earlier post to say that Boraxo, the hand soap from the 20 Mule Team folks, is good at getting out ground in dirt. Borateem is the detergent.

And Udder Cream rather than Udder Balm is really good at working the dirt out, too. Udder Cream works into the skin and isn't greasy like Udder Balm. I'd ask the cows which they prefer, but they aren't talking.

Kathleen, you've got to watch those cows. Once you start relying on them for anything, they milk it for all it's worth.

LOL, but then, we've been milking them for all they're worth for 30 some years, so fair is fair!

I guess you're right, Kathleen. Mankind has been putting the squeeze on them for a long time.

ROFL

I wonder if a sugar scrub would do the trick. I just posted this for dirty hands. Put some sugar in a container and cover with olive oil. Stir and massage into your knees. Rinse and pat dry. I keep a container in the shower for my elbows, knees and hands.

Well, I have contemplated it and decided to share for the sake of helping other gardeners! :)

I have very incompatible characteristics... I am in love with big dogs, I am vain, and I love to garden. I think you can see how those don't mesh. LOL! The dog issue was fixed with an invisible fence. The vanity issue is being worked out daily. But I have found some things that do work! I am proving it with pictures...

Do these look like the tootsies of a real gardener? Does my choice of slippers prove my diva-like tendencies?!

I had a pedicure last weekend and the girl said she was "scared" when she heard me say that I work out in the yard a lot. She exclaimed, "How do you not have ANY calluses?" when she started on my feet. Well, I use a pumice stone on my feet and very lightly on my knees and elbows when I take a shower.... EVERY shower. Then put on lots of heavy lotion and wear socks until it absorbs (just at night). It keeps stuff smooth and that means no calluses. AND, smooth fresh skin is harder for dirt to "stain." If you just get a regimen it really is fast and easy. If you are looking for a "product" secret, for me Lava soap and Oxiclean do the trick!

I cannot BELIEVE I am telling y'all this stuff! :)

Jamie

Next is the hands-

Again, in the shower I have a routine. I use that foot scrub stuff (just the cheap Friedmanâ??s brand or whatever it is at Wal-Mart). I just put it on my hands and use it like soap. It keeps them soft and no dead skin means no trapped dirt. I also use Lava soap after working in the yard. Or that thick stuff mechanics smear on their hands works well too. You can get it at the auto supply store. Swishing your hand around in the Oxiclean solution really works too- especially for getting stuff out from under your nails.

On that topic, my issue was not just the crescent shaped dirt rings under my nails, but the dirt that gets trapped between the SIDE of the nails and the skin of your fingers. So that's a manual process. A nail brush can't get it out so I pull down the skin around the nails and hold the nail under my showerhead. I put the showerhead on the back message setting that blasts a really hard stream of water so it sort of power washes under and around my nails. Works on the toenails too!

I do garden barefoot most of the time but I have started forcing myself to wear gloves. Blah. This is more to prevent breaking fingernails than anything else. So if you keep 'em short that isn't an issue. I tried guys; I just can't give up my nails! Ha! :) I hate knee pads so my husband got me one of those kneeler pads. I use it about 80% of the time but often I am in one place and I have left it across the yard somewhere. LOL!

Last tip for keeping hands soft- after all that scrubbing and power washing, I put a tiny bit of olive oil on my hands and rub it in really well. Then I just put on my regular lotion.

I sure hope this helps someone because it is embarrassing to confess!!!! It does sound like a lot of work, but seriously, being consistent really made a difference for me. Letting everything get all rough and dirt stained and ragged, then trying to "fix it" in one sitting wasn't working. But a routine has really helped and while it sounds time consuming, it really isn't! Promise!

Jamie

Jamie, you have beautiful hands and feet! I am so jealous right now as I look at my gross, dirty, broken nails.
I did the sugar and olive oil in the shower - LOVE IT! I made a another jar to keep by the sink to wash my hands with when I come in from the yard. I even washed my face with it (is that ok you think?).

Thanks bluenikko. :)

I think it depends on your skin. If I washed my face with olive oil I would break out like a 14 year old within minutes. LOL!

I have a "thing" about pampering yourself. Especially for women. I started my crusade with my mom and my mother-in-law. I was so sad to hear them both say "my hands are too ugly to get a manicure" and stuff like that. I think too often women think they are too fat, too ugly, too whatever and don't "deserve" to treat themselves well. So I say get a manicure, pedicure, facial, or whatever you can afford and enjoy it! My MIL got her nails done for the first time EVER last year for my SILs wedding (her daughter). This was at my urging and my FIL thought I was nuts and said she'd never agree to do it. Well she did and guess what? Every two weeks she goes to her nail lady and gets them taken care of. I also talked her into brow waxing and a pedicure. LOVED IT! My FIL accused me of turning his wife into a diva too. Ha! She is quite the little hottie now if I do say so myself!

BTW- I am making myself up a jar of that olive oil and sugar for the shower... just won't be putting it on my face!!!

Bluenikko, I'm so glad you liked the sugar scrub. It really does feel good on the hands. I have used it on my face - gently though.

Jamie, I agree, your hands and feet look beautiful.

Jamie, you are a girl after my own heart. I use the olive oil treatment for hands and feet too, only I use coarse salt as the abrasive. If we didn't treat ourselves well, we'd be waiting a long time for it to happen...your MIL is lucky she has you for inspiration! Unfortunately I havent found any solution to the vanity situation, I just live with it and you must learn to do the same. I suspect it's firmly entwined with our self esteem and unlikely to be dislodged by self discipline. And it is not a bad thing. Would we truly want to offend people with our appearance??? Certainly not. BTW, that olive oil treatment is the only thing I've tried in twenty years that keeps my nails from peeling and breaking!

LOL meezersfive! By the way, the only thing I've found that keeps MY nails from breaking is a layer of acrylic over the top. Hence my "vanity" ritual of bi-monthly "fills" with my nail girl. :)